Las Pinas observes free graduation rites for students

LAS PIÑAS CITY , MM – In compliance with the Department of Education’s directive of no graduation fee, 14,502 graduating public elementary and secondary students in Las Piñas City will enjoy subsidized graduation rites while honor students will receive cash incentives.

Valedictorians, salutatorians and honorable mention from elementary and high schools will receive cash incentives of P4,000 P3,000 and P2,000 respectively. The students likewise will enjoy free merienda and transportation fare.

Las Piñas city mayor Vergel ‘Nene’ Aguilar made the announcement after the DepEd has twice issued memos preventing schools from collecting graduation fees.

Aguilar, concurrent chairman of the City School Board, said that the city government has allocated a budget for the graduation rites for toga and souvenir photo.

Aguilar said the move was made not only to provide economic relief to parents during these difficult times but also to make their graduation a very memorable one.

“It is a commitment and my legacy to provide free, quality and accessible public school education to our youths to help shape their future even with the limited income and resources,” Aguilar said.

This year’s graduation rites will be held at the Covered Basketball Court at Verdant Subdivision in Barangay Pamplona III.

The city government also established the first ever City College in 1998 to provide quality college education to 2,000 poor but deserving students of the city every year. Now, it produces top board passers in CPA Board Exams.

In response to the trend of global technology, a three-storey Information Technology Training Center was put up in 2008 to accommodate city scholars to enroll in networking, web design and development, graphic design and animation and programming courses.

Aguilar also pioneered the establishment of the more than 60 day care and feeding centers in spread in all 20 barangays in the city to provide a better headstart for young children. (END)

Please let us know if you know of schools that are charging or charged for graduation fees. – Editor’s Note